LeBron James had a great run carrying his team that had no chance in the Playoffs all the way to the Finals. But he has now been swept twice in the NBA Finals, where the first time was by the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.

Stay tuned for LeBron’s next move. It will be a long summer.

FRENCH OPEN WOMEN’S FINAL

SIMONA HALEP VS. SLOANE STEPHENS

Photo: BBC Sport

World no. 1, Simona Halep finally won her 1st Grand Slam! Congrats to her and well fought after losing the 1st set to Sloane Stephens and being broken the 1st game in the 2nd. She beat Sloane Stephens, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Justify being ridden to victory by Mike Smith at the 2018 Belmont Stakes (Photo: New York Times)

Justify, an American thoroughbred racehorse, became the 13th winner of the American Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes last Saturday. The 2018 Kentucky Derby and the 2018 Preakness Stakes preceded his big win at Belmont.

The last horse to do so was American Pharoah in 2015 who ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought. Both were guided by the same trainer, Bob Baffert.

JN RACER’S GRAND PRIX

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in action at the JN Racer’s Grand Prix at The National Stadium Saturday, June 9, 2018.

The Queen is back! Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce not only improved on her time since her return, but won the 100m Women’s race as well in 11.10s!

This all went down at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Also look out for our future Queen, young Briana Williams (16yrs), who had a faster start than our Pocket Rocket and sustained her speed throughout the race, finishing 3rd in 11.26. Congrats to Team Jamaica and thanks to other athletes who came to the island to compete.

Jenna Prandini of the USA and no stranger to Jamaica came a close 2nd to Shelly in 11.14.

FRENCH OPEN MEN’S FINAL

RAFAEL NADAL VS. DOMINIC THIEM

Rafael Nadal reacts after winning Championship point and his 11th French Open title yesterday

Rafael Nadal won his 11th French Open yesterday! He beat Dominic Thiem who put up quite a fight, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Each set was about an hour-long, but the experience, strength, power and dominance of Nadal was just too much for Thiem. Winning never gets easier, but he has pulled it off again. Congrats Rafa!

Now let’s get ready for the World Cup!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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The ladies have been battling it out in some neck to neck matches. The focus has been on World #1, Simona Halep, former World #1, Angelique Kerber (21) and current World #2, Caroline Wozniacki.

Simona Halep from Romania a.k.a Jalapeño Pepper (Photo: GotCeleb)

Simona Halep has been struggling with a chronic ankle injury, but showed she was not backing out easily in the Quarterfinals after being down 3-0 in the 1st set to Karolína Plísková (6) and fighting back to win 6-3, 6-2.

Angelique Kerber (Photo: The Sun)

She then faced Angelique Kerber (21) in the Semifinals last night. Kerber has had a good run this Australian Open so far despite her inconsistencies in winning majors. She defeated huge contenders such as Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys (17).

On the other side of the draw, young Belgian, Elise Mertens had an impressive straight set win (6-4, 6-0) over Elina Svitolina (4). She has been a part of former Belgian Tennis Player and World #1, Kim Clijsters’ Tennis Camp. Kim has been texting her with encouragement for every match.

Elise Mertens (Photo: indianexpress.com)

Elise played one of the favourites, Caroline Wozniacki (2) last night in the Semifinals.

It will be Caroline Wozniacki (2) versus Simona Halep (1)! Whoever wins will win their 1st Grand Slam title and will be World #1.

Wozniacki’s Semifinal vs Mertens

Wozniacki tightened up towards the end of the match versus Mertens, up 6-3, 5-4 (30-0), then was brought to a tiebreak. She managed to dominate and win the tiebreak, thus the match, 6-3, 7-6 and is heading to her 3rd Grand Slam Final. Will the 3rd time be a charm?

Halep’s Semifinal vs Kerber

The Halep-Kerber Semifinal was epic!

Halep was quite solid versus Kerber until she was up 5-0 to serve out the first set and probably couldn’t believe she got there so fast. It looked like she started to think about it and handed Kerber 2 free points from double faults. Kerber picked up her game after that until Halep broke her to win the first set 6-3.

The 2nd set was a ding-dong battle even though Kerber was still plagued with unforced errors. With Halep looking slightly fresher and up 8-7, both had lost 2 match points until Halep lost a 3rd match point on Kerber’s serve and she kept pressing until she took full advantage of the 4th match point in the same game and won.

Date and Time of the Women’s Final

Saturday (Friday night) at 3:30am

Suga’s Prediction

Simona Halep has the reputation of choking in major matches, always coming close and losing it mentally and physically. However, she has stated there is a new Simona now and I believe her after the courage she showed versus the stubborn, Angelique Kerber.

I do not think Halep is giving up on this opportunity. I also doubt it will be a close or epic final. Suga calls Halep for the win.

MEN

Marin Čilić (6) reached to the Semifinals after World #1, Rafael Nadal retired in the 5th set agonized by a hip injury.

Marin Čilić (Photo: The Sun)

I like to refer to Čilić as Sparta. Whether he reached to the Semifinals by default or not, he is quite a fighter.

Sloane Stephens won her 1st Grand Slam Title on Saturday! She beat Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0.

Stephens was fully zoned in throughout the entire match, making very few unforced errors. While the favourite to win, Madison Keys probably had her worse match of the tournament. Her serve that is usually powerful was only on point for the first game of the match and deteriorated quickly afterwards. Her usual accurate forehand created many errors, often overhitting the ball. A lot of pressure was on her to win this title as the better player and I think it got to her mentally and then physically. Her game was completely off and just did not come together.

Thankfully the two finalists are friends and embraced each other strongly at the end of the match.

For Stephens, after being out for so long with an injury, this must be one of the greatest comebacks ever in tennis history. Congratulations to Sloane Stephens and we hope to see more of you!

CPL T20 Final

The CPL T20 Final was also last Saturday night between the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots and the Trinbago Knight Riders. Chris Gayle was only able to score 1 run for the Patriots who batted first, so you know what that means! The Trinbago Knight Riders are the CPL T20 2017 Champions! They finished at 136/7 (19.0). Congrats to them.

US OPEN Men’s Final

Yesterday, World no. 1, Rafael Nadal won his 3rd US Open Title vs. Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4! This was Rafa’s 16th Major Title. Nadal played for his Sweet 16 with spectacular groundstrokes, net game and quickness that was just too much for Anderson to handle. Congrats Rafa!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Roger Federer crashed out of the US Open last night. Juan del Potro came out with all guns blazing to spoil the anticipated Nadal-Federer Semifinal party.

What happened to Roger?!

Photo: ftw.usatoday.com

Well I can agree with what he said in his post-match interview. He had too many misses. Del Potro was not making many errors apart from a few double faults. Del Potro was just the better player last night. His forehands were powerful and aggressive and Federer had no answers for them. He was in the wrong position too many times. Del Potro’s serve was also on point. Federer failed to seize opportunities when the times were right compared to del Potro who did the exact opposite. It mattered most when Federer had FOUR set points to win the 3rd set and he lost them all. That gave del Potro the confidence to win the 4th and the match. The closeness of the match even when Roger played horribly, showed how great he is in this game. Del Potro beat Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

Del Potro will face World no. 1 Rafael Nadal in the Semis. Nadal knows that if he doesn’t play his best his chances are low versus del Potro who is currently at the top of his game.

For the 1st time in 36 years there will be All American Semifinals for the Ladies!

The Semifinal action will be on today. I think they’re all going for it and it’s anyone’s game. Everyone will have to play their best tennis to have a chance to win.

Here’s the Schedule:

Photo: express.co.uk

Venus Williams will play Sloane Stephens. Of course I give Venus the edge but Venus will need to improve her serve based on how she has been playing this tournament and will have to keep moving well.

Coco on a roll. Photo: marketwatch.com

Then you have Coco versus Keys. That should be a cracker. Both ladies have been playing extremely well. Even though Keys has a higher ranking, I give the edge to Coco if she keeps her emotions in check.

Note that Coco also took out World no. 1 Karolina Pliskova in straight sets in the QF, 7-6, 6-3.

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Anastasija Sevastova sent Maria Sharapova packing early in 4th round. Beating World no. 2, Simona Halep in the early rounds was probably just too much for Sharapova. Sevastova moves well but I don’t expect her to reach far with her poor service game.

Photo: metro.co.uk

Two-time Wimbledon Champ, Petra Kvitova upset Wimbledon 2017 Champ and US Open favourite, Garbine Muguruza in hard-fought straight sets including a first set tie break last night. Muguruza rolled through her opponents in the opening rounds but Kvitova was just the better player last night. Her powerful shots were too much for Muguruza. Maybe the hard courts just aren’t Muguruza’s specialty either.

Kvitova recently made her comeback after a traumatic injury from a robbery, having to do surgery on her hand with lingering damage to the nerves and more. Kudos to her for making it to the Quarterfinals. She will meet Venus Williams, where she has the advantage of a 4-1 head to head. It is believed the winner of that Quarterfinal in the toughest half of the draw, may ultimately win the US Open.

Photo: dailymail.co.uk

Venus Williams at 37 years old, beat Carla Suárez Navarro to reach the Quarterfinals. It took 3 sets but she showed the true Champion she was, totally dominating in the 3rd set. She has some work to do on her serve that eventually came together. But her movement was phenomenal, as if she was set back in a time machine.

Sloane Stephens is back from an injury as well. She is not back to her full potential yet, but is still playing well. She is through to the Quarterfinals.

What’s happening on the other side of the draw?

Current World no. 1, Karolina Pliskova will play in the round of 16 today. USA’s Coco Vandeweghe will also be in action along with no. 4, Elina Svitolina who will play the other American still standing, Madison Keys.

Today’s Schedule (Women):

Men’s Singles

Today’s Schedule (Men):

Sam Querrey, who upset Andy Murray at Wimbledon has been playing extremely well with more confidence, powerful shots and angles. He is one to watch.

Photo: eurosport.com

Marin Cilic, past US Open Champ and who reached the Finals of Wimbledon this year, had an early exit.

Juan del Potro (24) is healthy and has been playing well. He will meet World no. 6, Dominic Thiem today.

Photo: dailymail.co.uk

Roger Federer, who has been suffering from a back injury recently, was struggling in the earlier rounds with 5-set matches. However, he looked like himself again on Saturday, moving much better and destroyed Feliciano Lopez in straight sets.

World no. 1, Rafael Nadal had a shaky round on Saturday but is still through to play in the Round of 16 today. He has never met Roger Federer in the US Open in all their years of rivalry, but if both of them stay on course, they are 2 wins away from a Semifinal match up!

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Garbine Muguruza (14), who reached the Final in 2015, upset World no. 1 Angelique Kerber today in quite a showdown, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Kerber hasn’t been playing well all year and even had a scare after losing the 1st set and going to a tiebreak in the 2nd set with American, Shelby Rogers in the round before.

Kerber will lose the no. 1 ranking as a result of losing in the 4th round to Muguruza.

Venus moves on to the round of 8! Photo: theguardian.com

Venus Williams (10) is also moving on to the Quarter Finals. She had a few early, hard fought matches but cruised pass Ana Konjuh (27) in the 4th round, 6-3, 6-2.

Jelena Ostapenko (13) has not lost a match since her 1st career win at the French Open this year! She beat Elena Svitolina (4), who has been suffering from a foot injury in straight sets, 6-3, 7(8)-6(6).

Unseeded, Magdaléna Rybarikova is still in it and will play Coco in the Quarterfinals.

Svetlana Kuznetsova took out Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets to get to the Quarterfinals. Radwanska had the task of beating Timea Bacsinsky in the 3rd round before meeting Kuznetsova.

Home fave and World no. 1, Andy Murray is safely through to the Quarterfinals.

Roger Federer (3), who decided to forego the Clay court season at his age, is doing well on his road to claiming a historic title. He beat Grigor Dimitrov (13) in straight sets to advance to the Quarterfinals.

Here is the Schedule for the Men’s Quarterfinals and Match ups for Wednesday morning: